Can turning machine



Sept. 6, 1938. l. H. KENDALL CAN TURNING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1955 4'Sheets-Sheet l BY KZZM/ ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1938 l. H. KENDALL 2,129,137

CAN TURNING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Sept.6, 1938. E DA L 2,129,137

CAN TURNING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 4 /04 f4. q. 7 L

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 6 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN TURNINGMACHINE Application May 13, 1935, Serial No. 21,176

11 Claims.

My invention relates to a machine for cleansing receptacles and thecovers thereof, and more especially milk cans and covers for said cans.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved mechanism forreversing the cans from an inverted position to an upright positionentirely by mechanical means, and maintaining a proper relation betweena can and its cover, so that the cover can be applied to the can at thedelivery end of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism for moving thecans from station to station so that the cans are properly located atthe successive stations.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

Figs. 1 and 1a are side elevations of a single line straight linewasher, showing the general de- 20. sign of the machine and how some ofthe more important members are assembled.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the means for producing thecompounding movement for indexing the can into the inverter, the lengthof this last compounding movement being greater than the distancebetween the stations of the machine which are anterior the inverter.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the can inverter.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the can inverter.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the can inverter.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the can inverter and of the gear trainwhich produces the different movements of the indexing mechanism andwhich also produces the intermittent rotation of the can inverter. Thisfigure also shows the means for applying the power of the gear train andhow the motor is mounted so that said motor is caused to rock backwardif the normal operation 4.0 of the machine is obstructed, in order todis-.

connect the motor power from the gear train.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation showing the means for mounting the motor 50as to enable it to rock backwards.

The machine has a main frame to which the other parts are connected.Said main frame comprises steel channel-irons F.

The mechanism for indexing or feeding the cans in successiveintermittent strokes, from station to station of the machine, andfinally into the inverter, is generally shown.

As shown in Fig. 1a, the reciprocating movement of the canindexing-mechanism is produced by the rotation of gear 8|, having thecrank pin I29 mounted in a boss thereof. T-bars 95 have depending arms82, which are connected to a cross-pin 19 which passes through a bearingof pitman 18, so that pitman 18 can turn relative to cross pin 19. Hencea single pitman 18 moves the T-bars 95 back and forth in. unison. Thispitman 18 is connected to crank pin I29.

In moving the can from position K (see Fig. 2), into the can inverter,as designated by position D, the can has a greater distance of travel Bthan in its previous intermittent movements from station to station. Thelength of each said previous movement is designated by A. This longerfinal feeding movement is secured by compounding the movement of thelast pair of indexing fingers 9| (see Fig. 3), this being desirable sothat the inverter bars I04 (see Fig. 2), will not contact with the milkcan while it is in position K and while the inverter is being turned.

This compounding movement is accomplished as follows: 4

Can indexing fingers 9! (see Figs. 2 and 3) are pivoted by pins M2 toslidable bars 93. Said slidable bars 93 are slidably mounted in slidebearings Ill, said bearings Hi being mounted on the T-bars 95.

Pitman members 89 are pivotally connected to the respective slidablebars 93 at 99, and each said pitman 89 is pivoted to a lever 83 at B5.Said levers 83 are pivoted to a frame member F at 84. The levers 83 arecaused to rock forward and backward by links 8T, which are pivotallyconnected to the respective depending arms 82 of T- bars 95 at 88, andeach link 87 is pivotally connected to a lever 83 at 86. The slide bars93 are thus actuated in unison. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the cans arefed into the machine at the lefthand end of Fig. 1.

Since each depending arm 82 is rigidly connected to and has the samemovement as its T-bar 95, it is clear that each lever 83 at its pivotpoint 86, willhave practically the same stroke as the respectivedepending arm 82. However, pivot point 85 will have a longer stroke thanpoint 86, since 35 is at a greater distance than 86 from pivot 84, andconsequently this longer stroke will be transmitted to the slide bars 93and the supplemental indexing fingers 9| which are mounted on said slidebars 93.

The slide bars 93 have the full stroke of the T-bars 5, plus the extrastroke of pitman 89 over pitman 81.

The outer ends of fingers 9| carry pins I [4.

At about the end of the'forward stroke of the fingers 9|, pins H4 willcontact with the heads of adjustable bolts 92, which are connected tothe frame of the machine, so that the fingers 9I will assume aninoperative position. Near the end of the backward stroke of indexingfingers 9i, the pins I I4 (see Fig. 3) will contact with the heads ofadjustable bolts 92 which are connected to the frame of the machine,thus causing the fingers III to rotate on their pivot pins H2, and thefingers will then be turned into the operative position illustrated inFig. 3. While the cans are being moved by the indexing mechanism intothe inverter, they slide on stationary bars 94, which are connected tothe frame of the machine.

The can is indexed into the inverter by the for ward movement of the canindexing mechanism, and during the return stroke of the can indexingmechanism, the inverter will make one half of a revolution, thusinverting the can and depositing same on stationary can trackbars H5(see Fig. 2). The tops of bars I I5 are lower than the tops of bars 94,but substantially flush with the inverter bars I04, so the can, wheninverted to position E, will rest on can track bars H5 and inverter barsI04. Can ejector members I31 are connected to and they move in unisonwith slide bars 93, so that upon the next forward movement of bars 93,the members I3'I will engage the inverted can and move it out of theoutlet side of the inverter, at the same time that a can is beingindexed into the inlet side of the inverter by fingers 9I. Said canejector members I37 are located above the bottom bars I04 of theinverter. The ejector members I31 are connected to rods I30, which areconnected to bars 93, and the rods I38 slide in bearings I39.

The intermittent turning of the can inverter is produced by a pair ofintermittent gears forming part of the gear train shown in Figs. 7 and8, this train of gears producing the reciprocating movement of the canindexing mechanism and cover indexing mechanism as well as the turningof the can inverter in a single direction.

This improved can inverter is the first which operates wholly bypositive mechanism, thus eliminating the use of the force of gravity,thus providing a positive and accurate method of inverting a can whichis of great value, as it is imperative that the inverting of the cans beaccomplished in a definite and precise manner, in or der to prevent cansfrom becoming jammed in the machine. Likewise, it is the first inverterwhich is turned in a single direction, instead of being rocked.

The train of gears (Figs. 7 and 8) functions as follows:

Drive motor I23 turns spur gear I22 by any suitable gearing. Spur gearI22 continuously turns a large spur gear II 9 which is keyed to shaftI26.

Keyed to shaft I29 is a driving intermittent or mutilated gear I2 I,having teeth I 2 Ia on one half its circumference only, the other halfbeing provided with a shoe I20. The periphery of said shoe I20 iscircular and concentric with shaft I26, save that the ends of said shoeI20 are rounded. Said shoe I20 has a periphery of T The radius of theperiphery of shoe I20 exceeds the pitch radius of ear teeth I2Ia of gearI 2|. Driven gear III has teeth over its complete circumference and thesame number of teeth as gear I2I. Said gears III and I2I mesh. Gear II!has shoe II8 connected thereto, and said shoe has a concave periphery,which corresponds to the convex periphery of shoe I20.

When gear I2I makes one complete revolution, gear III will make onecomplete revolution, but gear II'I makes its complete revolution whilegear IZI is turning The peripheries of the shoes H8 and I20 are shapedto permit the gear I IT to make a complete revolution, while the gearI2I makes a half revolution. The shoes H8 and I20 then reach therespective positions which are shown in Fig. 7, so that as the teethI2Ia go out of mesh with the teeth of the gear III, the shoe I20restrains the gear I I1 against further movement, until the teeth I2Iaagain mesh with the teeth of gear I H.

The gears I22 and H9 can have different relative diameters, dependingupon the speed with which the machine is driven. For example, in Fig. 1athe gear I22 is represented as having a larger diameter than in Fig. '7.

Referring to Fig. '7, the gear I22 turns in the clockwise direction, andthe gear I I9 turns in the counter-clockwise direction.

The gear II'I meshes with the idler gear H6, and said gear IIE mesheswith the gear IIO, which is keyed to the shaft III! of the inverter.

The gears H6 and III) are of the same diameter, and the gear II'I hasone half the diameter of the gear IIO so that there is a gear ratio of 1to 2 between the gear II! and the gear I ID.

The shaft I01 of the inverter is mounted in bearings I09 as shown inFig. 8.

The can inverter is shown in detail in Fig. 1 and Figs. 5-8 inclusive.

Frame I05 and abutment member 20 are fastened to shaft I01. As shown inFig. 5, the frame I05 has a rectangular shape, having side bars and endbars.

To frame I05 are welded spacers I06 to which are welded four bars I04,as shown in Fig. 5.

Bars I04 are rigidly fastened together by bars I08. The can inverter isassembled in the machine so that its bars I04 are located between thecan track bars 94 and H5. When the inverter is in the position shown inFig. 2, the tops of the bottom pair of bars I04 are fiush with the topsof track bars II5, whose tops are lower than the tops of track bars 94.

This arrangement permits the can to enter the inverter on track bars 94and to leave the inverter on track bars H5. The members I31 providesufficient indexing movement for the ejected can, in order to provideclearance for bars I94 when the inverter is turned.

The can indexing mechanism is positively operated at all times and it issuperior to the pawls which are now commonly used.

The can indexing fingers II engage the necks of the cans, so there is noreciprocating mechanism beneath the cans.

When a can is introduced into the machine, it is placed in invertedposition upon the plate I64. In said position the can is pushed into themachine by means of dog IIS'I, which is pivoted at I68 to an extensionof T-bars 95. When a cover Ca is introduced into the machine it islocated upon the upper track bars I8, in the position shown at theleft-hand side of Fig. 1. The dog I15, pivoted at IT? to a vertical barI465, moves the cover into the machine, from its initial position.

The first indexing of a can and cover is produced by dogs I61 and I15,but after said first movement, the cans are indexed from station tostation by indexing fingers, as previously explained, while the coversare indexed by cover feeding dogs I 0. 1

Cover feeding dogs II) are pivoted at I84 to reciprocating longitudinalcover-feeding dog-bar I46. Stops I44 limit the lowest positions of dogsIn and stops I4I limit their uppermost positions. The stops I44 and I4!are transverse bars, connected to the longitudinal bar I46, which isconnected to bar I4Ba. Bar MM is connected to bar I46, by vertical barsI461).

During the forward movement of bar I 46 the dogs Ill pivotally attachedthereto will engage the covers and index them at one station. Theholding dogs 9 which are pivoted at I43 to a stationary frame member,fall behind the covers and prevent their being moved backward upon thereturn stroke of bars I46 and I tea. When bars I45 and Mfia are movedrearwardly, dogs 9 hold the covers against rearward movement, and dogsIll then rise, slip over the covers, and then fall behind the covers forthe next feeding stroke.

The covers are discharged into a chute I5I down which each cover slidesby gravity to the uprighted can on which the cover is retained in atilted position.

Referring to Fig. l, a crank 83 having a pin 86 is keyed to shaft I26.This is also shown in Fig. 8. Said pin 80 is connected to link 30!],which is pivoted at 300a. to bell-crank lever 3M, pivoted at 302 to theframe of the machine. Bell-crank lever 3UI is pivotally connected at302a. to link 3433 which is pivotally connected at 304 to a de pendingarm of cover-indexing bar I46a. Referring to Fig. 1, the pins 81! andI29 are nonaligned, so that when a can and cover are introduced into themachine, said can and cover are not indexed in unison. The can and covermay each have the same number of intermittent feeding movements throughthe machine, but the respective feeding strokes are not in unison, andthey do not have the same distance of travel. That is, at every movementof a can, it is moved the same distance, save for the compoundedmovement into the inverter, and possibly the first movement produced bydog I61. Every movement of the cover has the same distance of travel,save when the cover enters the chute I5I. .I-Iowever the movement of acover will be greater than the movement of a can, since the stations forthe cover are spaced a greater distance than the stations for the can.The stations for the cover are therefore not superposed relative to thestations for the can.

In the first position of the can within the machine, the milk residue isallowed to drain out of the can. In the next two positions, the can ispre-rinsed, said pre-rinsing being carried on in two stages.

In the first pre-rinsing stage I can use ordinary cold water from a cityline or the like. In the second pre-rinsing stage I can use cold wateror warm water which may be supplied from the city lines and which may beled through any suitable heater.

The next operation is the first washing stage which is performed bymeans of water having any suitable cleansing material in solution. Thewash water is supplied to the nozzles W under suitable pressure, fromthe tank T, by means of the pump 47.

The next operation is the sterile rinse, using sterile rinse water fromany suitable source.

The can is then subjected to a series of steaming operations, threesteaming stations being illustrated. The steam for said operations isdrawn directly from a suitable boiler (not shown) The. can is now dried,two drying stations being shown in this machine.

The can is now indexed into the inverter, and it is then inverted.

Fig. 1 shows the pipe line I00 which supplies Wash water to the head II,which washed the covers.

Fig. 1 also shows a steam ejector Hi2 which draws water out of asuitable tank and forces the same through the nozzles I63 and FM forsterile rinsing of the cover. The nozzle 'IMa supplies the sterile rinsewater for rinsing the inside of the can.

Fig. 1 also shows the washing heads 565 for rinsing the outside of thecan with sterile water.

.Fig. 1 also shows washing heads I'M for supplying wash water to theoutside of the can.

A safety device is provided for disengaging the gear I22 from the gearI19 and thus stopping the entire drive of the machine if a can becomesjammed or if the operation of the machine re quires more than normalpower.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 9, the motor IE3 is mounted upon a platform 880and said platform 89!] is provided with depending lugs which areconnected to a shaft 8IlIa, said shaft 86m being mounted in suitablebearings BIO which are connected to the frame of the machine. Theplatform 800 also has depending lugs 805 which can abut the frame F, asshown in Fig. 7. The platform 800 is also provided at its rear end withupstanding lugs 8000. to which a lever 805 is pivoted at 805a. Saidlever 885 is also pivotally connected at 301 to a lug 806 which isrigidly connected to the frame of the machine. The lever 895 ispivotally connected to an upwardly extending link 80m whose length maybe adjusted by a turn-buckle device or the like.

The upper end of the link 8M has a hook which passes through the openingin a lever Said lever- 802 is pivoted at 803 to the frame of the machineand said lever 802 is provided with an adjustable counterweight 884.

As previously stated, the gear I!!! turns in the counterclockwisedirection. Hence the reaction of the gear I22 tends to turn the platform800 in the counterclockwise direction around the shaft Bill. This tendsto lower the rear end of the platform and to lower lugs 800a, so thatlever 8% is turned downwardly on pivot 801, thus pulling down link 80m.The counterweight 804 is adjusted so as to supply the necessary drivingforce for the machine. If this driving force exceeds the desired limitat any time, the reaction on the gear I22 causes the platform 899 toturn counterclockwise. The bell crank 8I2 which is connected to limitswitch L, which is normally held by spring La in the circuit-closingposition shown in Fig. '7, is actuated by rod film, the lower end ofwhich is connected to platform 80!). The platform then trips the limitswitch L, thus opening the circuit of the electric motor I23. The lugs805 limit the turning of the platform in the clockwise direction. Thelatch 8i Ia which is pivoted at BI I, may also be provided for holdingthe platform 8%, in the position in which the switch remains tripped.The latch BI Ia as shown in Fig. '7 is in its inoperative position, butwhen the platform 8% is rocked counterclock- Wise, the latch BI id willturn by gravity so that its shoulder will engage platform 80D and holdsame until the latch is manually released.

I have shown preferred embodiments of the invention, but numerouschanges and omissions could be made without departing from its spirit.

In particular, when I use identification numerals in the claims, this ismerely for convenience and the claims are not to be limited to thespecific embodiments disclosed as a part identified by a numeral is tobe considered as representative of general means for accomplishing theparticular function involved.

I claim;

1. In a machine for cleaning receptacles which are open at one end andwhich are closed at the other end, an inverter, a plurality ofequidistant,

stations located anterior to said inverter, receiving means locatedafter said inverter and located to receive an uprighted receptacle fromsaid inverter, main intermittently operated feeding means operative tofeed said receptacles in the inverted position and in equal intermittentstrokes from station to station, said inverter being turnably mounted,turning mechanism operative to turn said inverter intermittently throughan arc of substantially and always in the same direction and away fromsaid feeding means towards said receiving means, first additionalintermittently operated feeding means operative to feed the receptaclefrom the station directly anterior to said inverter into said inverterand in a stroke longer than said intermittent strokes, second additionalintermittently operated feeding means for feeding the uprightedreceptacle from the inverter to the receiving means after the inverterhas been operated to move the receptacle towards said receiving means,said first and second additional feeding means and said turningmechanism being timed in operation so as to feed the inverted receptacleinto the inverter while the inverter is stationary, then to operate theinverter while the receptacles are maintained stationary anterior to theinverter and then simultaneously to feed an inverted receptacle into theinverter and to move the uprighted receptacle out of the inverter.

2. In a machine for cleaning receptacles which are open at one end andwhich are closed at the other end, an inverter, a plurality ofequidistant stations located anterior to said inverter, receiving meanslocated after said inverter and located to receive an upright edreceptacle from said inverter, main intermittently operated feedingmeans operative intermittently to feed said receptacles in the invertedposition and in equal intermittent strokes from station to station, saidinverter being turnably mounted, turning mechanism operative to turnsaid inverter intermittently through an arc of substantially 180 andalways in the same direction and away from said feeding means towardssaid receiving means, first additional intermittently operated feedingmeans operative to feed the receptacle from the station directlyanterior to said inverter into said inverter and in a stroke longer thansaid intermittent strokes, second additional intermittently operatingfeeding means for feeding the uprighted receptacle from the inverter tothe receiving means, said first and second additional feeding means andturning mechanism being timed in operation so as to feed the invertedreceptacle into the inverter while the inverter is stationary, then tooperate the inverter while the recep tacles are maintained stationaryanterior to the inverter and then simultaneously to feed an invertedreceptacle into the inverter and to move the uprighted receptacle out ofthe inverter, the width of the inverter being substantially equal to thewidth of two receptacles.

3. In a machine for handling receptacles, de-

livery means located anterior to the inverter for delivering receptaclesthereto, an inverter, receiving means located to receive receptaclesfrom the inverter, mechanism operative to turn said inverterintermittently through an arc of 180 and always in the same directionand away from the delivery means towards the receiving means, saidinverter having an inlet end and an outlet end in each position of restthereof, said inlet end being aligned with delivery means, said outletend being aligned with said receiving means in the position of rest ofthe inverter, intermittently operated feeding mechanism for feedingreceptacles into the inlet end of the inverter while it is at rest,intermittent feeding mechanism for discharging receptacles from theoutlet end of the inverter.

4. In a machine for handling receptacles, delivery means locatedanterior to the inverter for delivering receptacles thereto, receivingmeans located to receive receptacles from the inverter, an inverter,mechanism operative to turn said inverter intermittently through an arcof 180 and always in the same direction and away from the delivery meansto the receiving means, said inverter having an inlet end and an outletend in each position of rest thereof, said inlet end being aligned withsaid delivery means and said outlet end being aligned with saidreceiving means in the position of rest of the inverter, intermittentlyoperated feeding mechanism for feeding receptacles into the inlet end ofthe inverter while it is at rest, intermittently operated mechanism fordischarging receptacles from the outlet end of the inverter, saiddelivery means and said receiving means being located to support thereceptacles at substantially the same level as the bottom of thereceptacle when it is located in the inverter, in the position of restof the inverter.

5. In a machine for handling receptacles, an inverter mounted upon ashaft, and gear means adapted to turn said shaft intermittently in thesame direction through an arc of 180, said gear means including a firstgear and a second gear meshing with the first gear, the first gearhaving gear teeth around its entire circumference, the second gear l2!having the same number of teeth as the first gear around half thecircumference of the second gear.

6. In a machine for handling receptacles, an inverter mounted upon ashaft, and gear means adapted to turn said shaft intermittently in thesame direction through an arc of 180", said gear means including a firstgear and a second gear meshing with the first gear, the first gearhaving gear teeth around its entire circumference, the second gearhaving the same number of teeth as the gear around half thecircumference of the second gear, the shafts of the gears havingcooperating shoe means for holding the first gear stationary when it isout of mesh with the second gear.

'7. A machine for cleansing receptacles, comprising an inverter, saidinverter being mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, delivery meanslocated anterior to the inverter for delivering receptacles thereto,receiving means located to receive the receptacles from the inverter,turning mechanism adapted to turn said inverter intermittently andalways in the same direction and away from the delivery means towardsthe receiving means and through an arc of substantially 180, saidinverter having an inlet end and an outlet end which are respectively inregistration with said feeding means and said receiving means when theinverter is at rest, the width of the inverter being sufiicient toaccommodate two receptacles, discharge mechanism adapted to dischargethe receptacle from the inverter to the receiving means, said feedingmeans and said discharge mechanism being connected and being operated inunison so that a receptacle is pushed onto the inverter at its inlet endand a receptacle is discharged from the inverter at its outlet end atthe same time.

8. In a can washing machine having a runway along which the cans areadvanced in an inverted position, an inverter for righting said cans,said inverter having a plurality of can holders, means for rotating saidinverter to move each of said holders in succession first to a positionto receive a can from said runway and thereafter to a position at whichthe can is discharged in an upright position and means upon which therighted can is deposited, said first named means being operative toarrest the movement of said inverter as the cans are delivered to anddischarged from said holders.

9. In a can washing machine having a runway along which the cans areadvanced in an inverted position, an inverter for righting said cans,said inverter having a plurality of can holders, means for rotating saidinverter to move each of said holders in succession first to a positionto receive a can from said runway and thereafter to a position at whichthe can is discharged, a support upon which the righted can is depositedand means for moving said can along said support, said first named meansbeing operative upon the discharge of a can from one of said holders tofurther rotate said inverter in the same direction to move a second ofsaid holders to a position to receive a can from said runway.

10. In a can washing machine having a runway along which the cans areadvanced in an inverted position, an inverter for righting said cans, asupport upon which the righted cans are deposited said inverter havingan opposed pair of can holders, each of which has one position in whicha can is received from said runway and a second position in which thecan is discharged upon said support, means for moving the righted cansalong said support and means operative on the movement of a can holderto a can receiving position to cause an operation of said can movingmeans.

11. In a can washing machine having a runway along which the cans areadvanced in an inverted position, an inverter for righting said cans, asupport upon which the righted cans are deposited, said inverter havingan opposed pair of can holders, each of which has one position in whicha can is received from said runway and a second positionin which the canis discharged upon said support and means operative on the movement ofone of the can holders to a can receiving position to move the canpreviously discharged from the other of said can holders along saidsupport.

IRA H. KENDALL.

